Lebanon school board race will be on Nov. 6 ballot

School contest goes back before voters

Sep. 18, 2012

Written by

The Tennessean

Steve Jones has served on the board of the Lebanon Special School District for 24 years and he doesn’t intend to give up that seat without a fair fight.

In August, he lost his re-election bid to Johnie Payton by one vote. The final tally was 1,468-1,467.

But after the election, Jones learned there were residents who were eligible to vote in the race who did not get the opportunity because the race was not on their ballot.

Jones challenged the results and a judge agreed a new election was in order, placing the race back on the Nov. 6 ballot.

“Do you know anyone who wouldn’t contest it with one vote (difference)?” Jones said after the ruling. “I had two or three people tell me they tried to vote and they couldn’t. There could have been an easy mistake. We’ll see what happens in November. Either way I won’t have a problem with it.”

Two people testified at the hearing they were eligible to vote for the school board seat, but didn’t have the particular race on their ballots.

There was no evidence of wrongdoing or fraud, said Wilson County attorney Mike Jennings.

Chancellor C.K. Smith voided the results believing mistakes could have been made and also ruled Jones would keep his seat on the three-member board in the interim.

Jones wanted to stay on the board in the interim and believes it helps the overall flow to stay on, especially since he’s been the chairman.

Lebanon Special School District Director Scott Benson said the system is dealing now with “typical month-to-month business.”

Jones will continue to serve as chairman until after the November election.

“It’s not an unusual position,” said Lebanon Special School District attorney Bob Rochelle.

Payton, a retired teacher in the district, couldn’t be reached in time for this story. Jones stated the two are friends and that hasn’t changed through the election and lawsuit.

“Mr. Jones and Ms. Payton are both fine people with a long history with our district …” Benson said. “I believe they both care deeply for our district and the children in our city.”

“Once someone has voted, there is no way we can know,” Wilson County Election Commission Administrator Phillip Warren said about checking whether voters could have gotten the wrong ballot. “Two things we take away are that every vote counts, and that if you have questions, see something you don’t understand, ask.”